Scholarship

Presented at the 2024 Western ACDA Conference in Pasadena, CA.

When we label our concert programs as “multicultural,” we begin with good intentions; however, celebrating diversity sometimes tokenizes the historically excluded cultures we are attempting to recognize and honor. Using multicentrism, which argues for “the marginalized moving from the margins to the centre, and not simply being grafted into the existing order,” this session will outline a culturally conscious six-step process for choral programming: acknowledge privilege, decide what you value, choosing repertoire, do your due diligence, identify who holds the power, and contextualize. Attendees will receive programming suggestions and ways to respectfully rehearse and perform less-familiar repertoire in your ensembles.

Featured in the Spring/Summer 2023 edition of Cantate, a California Choral Director's Association journal.

Presented at the 2023 Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids, MI.

As extremely busy choral educators, score study is sometimes dead last on our thousand-item to-do lists. This session will present a five-step process for understanding a musical score and the ability to teach a piece of music to any performance ensemble in a short amount of time. In our busy lives as educators, score study can often get the “short shrift,” but by utilizing the skills from this session, attendees will be able to walk away with the skills necessary to score study with an efficiency geared toward the rehearsal process. Attendees will participate in a live 15-minute score study session where a musical score is prepared with a first lesson plan outlined in under 15 minutes.

Co-presented with Dr. Colleen Chester at the 2022 Western ACDA Conference in Long Beach, CA.

 In a time when people are yearning for meaningful human connection, how can we know that all members of our ensemble feel seen, heard, and cared for? By reflecting on the culture within our ensembles, we can explore ways to continue, shift, and inspire a more inclusive space for all. The presenters will guide attendees through various leadership styles (Phillips, 2004 and Brown, 2018) and how they function within choral spaces. This session will discuss ways in which educator-conductors can use thoughtful language, vulnerable leadership strategies, and classroom democratization to foster an environment of belonging rather than simply fitting in. Attendee takeaways will include: ways to invite students into leadership roles, ideas for student involvement/ownership, and enhanced engagement in the classroom environment. These actionable activities for community building explore how we can inspire our singers, and ourselves, to make mindful choices that will positively impact the sense of community within our ensembles. 

Doctoral Document 

Michigan State University (April 2022)